I'm seeing some chatter on social media about these weird flyers that have been popping up around downtown Lexington. Do we actually have any regulations about posting flyers on public property?

You're absolutely right to wonder about that. In Kentucky you may not place a sign in the public right-of-way, which includes sidewalks, lamp posts, utility poles, that kind of thing. Code Enforcement provides inspections related to illegal temporary signs, so they're the ones who'd be out there pulling down anything that shouldn't be there.

So someone could actually get in trouble for putting up flyers downtown?

Oh absolutely. You also need a sign permit for most signage in Lexington, and Code Enforcement works with property owners to bring their property into compliance with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Code of Ordinances. Now, if someone's posting flyers on private property with permission, that's different. But anything on city poles, street signs, public benches, that's going to get removed pretty quickly once Code Enforcement spots it.

Makes sense why people get frustrated when they see random stuff taped everywhere then.

Exactly. And it's not just about keeping things tidy. Political signs can be a threat to the safety of drivers. The wires used to support the signs can create hazards for the public if they are accidentally hit. So there's really a safety component to these rules too. If you see illegal posting happening, you can always report it to Code Enforcement at three-eleven.

Good to know. At least now I understand why those flyers disappear so fast sometimes.

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